What is Khao Takiab like?
Khao Takiab is Hua Hin's quieter bay, at the southern end of its long beach under a small temple hill that Hyatt Regency Hua Hin calls Chopsticks Hill. It has a fishing pier, seafood restaurants on the water and a few large resorts, and it feels calmer than the town centre. The Tourism Authority of Thailand spells it Khao Takiap.
The beach curves north from the hill towards the centre of Hua Hin, and it is wide and flat at low tide. Fishing boats unload at the small pier in the morning. In the late afternoon, families walk the sand and the light turns gold behind the hill.
Khao Takiab suits you if you want Hua Hin's restaurants and golf close by, without living in the busier town centre. It is quiet at night, with dinner by the water rather than bars.
Example plan: a day at Khao Takiab. You climb the temple hill at seven, while the boats unload at the pier below. Swim and lunch at your resort. Play nine holes in the late afternoon, then eat grilled crab by the pier as the sun drops behind the hill.
Which is the best beach in Hua Hin?
That depends on the stay you have in mind; the table above sets the four beaches side by side. Khao Takiab is best for a calm, scenic bay with a temple view. Read our Cha-am guide for weekday quiet, and our Pranburi guide for villas and national parks.
Start with our Hua Hin guide for the whole coast.
What can you see at Wat Khao Takiab?
Wat Khao Takiab is a temple on the hill above the bay, with a tall standing Buddha that faces the sea. Climb up for the best view over Hua Hin's beach and the town to the north. Go early in the morning or near sunset, when it is cooler and the light is soft.
Dress as for any temple: cover your shoulders and knees, with trousers or a skirt below the knee and a top with sleeves. Take off your shoes before entering any temple building, and speak quietly. Read our temple dress code guide for more.
Monkeys live on the hill. Keep food, drinks and loose items such as sunglasses out of sight, and do not feed them. Children should stay close to an adult on the paths. The steps to the top are steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
At the foot of the hill, the pier and the small market are worth a short walk. Mornings are best, when the boats come in.
Is Khao Takiab good for swimming?
Yes, on calm days in the cool, dry season, when the sea is usually gentle. The Thai Meteorological Department warns that the north-east monsoon brings high waves off the east coast, including Hua Hin. Check conditions on windy days. The Tourism Authority of Thailand advises obeying red flags.
A red flag means do not swim. Swim near your resort, where staff watch the beach. The water is shallow for a long way at low tide, which suits paddling more than laps. For a proper swim, use the resort pool and keep the sea for the calm early mornings.
Where should you stay in Khao Takiab?
Hyatt Regency Hua Hin is the main luxury resort at Khao Takiab, with 205 rooms and suites on the beach. For a wellness retreat, Chiva-Som is a short drive north. For the widest choice of five-star resorts, look along Hua Hin's main beach, close by.
Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. A large beach resort at Khao Takiab with 205 rooms and suites. Families and groups come for the pools, the space and the calm southern bay.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin. A famous wellness resort with 54 rooms and suites, at Nong Kae, north of Khao Takiab. Best for a health retreat with a full programme.
InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. A resort in Hua Hin town with 159 rooms, suites and pool villas. Best if you want to walk to town.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Hua Hin. The historic resort in the town centre, first opened in 1923, with 209 rooms and suites and 42 villas. Best for families who like a sense of history.
Set Khao Takiab beside the rest of the coast with where to stay in Hua Hin.
Can you rent a villa near Khao Takiab?
Yes. The hills behind Khao Takiab and the coast to the south have private pool villas with sea or mountain views. A typical choice is a 4-bedroom pool villa in the hills south of Hua Hin, with a chef and housekeeper. Families and groups get space and privacy here.
We judge a villa on four things: the view, the bedrooms, the staff and the road access. Villas in the hills are cooler and more private; those near the beach let children walk straight onto the sand. We add a chef, a driver and golf tee times. See how our villa rental service works.
Where to eat at Khao Takiab
The best simple meals at Khao Takiab are fresh seafood by the pier, eaten at tables over the water. For a finer dinner, the resort restaurants and the dining rooms of Hua Hin town are a short drive away. We book tables and a driver, so the evening is easy.
Seafood by the pier. Choose your fish, prawns or crab from the day's catch, cooked Thai-style. Go at sunset, and ask for a table at the water's edge.
Resort dining. Hyatt Regency Hua Hin has its own restaurants on site, convenient for families.
Hua Hin town. The town has the widest choice of restaurants, from hotel dining rooms to night markets. A car takes you there and back in comfort.
Golf and lunch. Hua Hin is one of Thailand's golf centres, with courses a short drive inland. A morning round followed by a long lunch is the classic Hua Hin day. See our guide to golf in Hua Hin.
When is the best time to visit?
Mid-October to mid-February is the best time to visit Khao Takiab. It is the cool, dry season, with clear skies and pleasant evenings. The hot season runs to mid-May. The rainy season follows, from mid-May to mid-October, with short showers more often than full days of rain.
Weekends and Thai holidays are busier, as Hua Hin is a favourite escape from Bangkok. For the calmest stay, come from Monday to Thursday, when the beach and the temple hill are almost empty in the morning. Month-by-month rain for Hua Hin is in our Thailand weather guide.
How do you get to Khao Takiab?
The easiest way is by private car from Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand puts Hua Hin about 200 km and about 2 hours by car from Bangkok. Khao Takiab is at its southern end. A chauffeur can meet you at Suvarnabhumi Airport or your hotel.
Trains also run to Hua Hin. The State Railway of Thailand timetable lists Special Express 43, which leaves Bangkok at 07:30 and reaches Hua Hin at 10:31. A car then takes you to Khao Takiab. Hua Hin Airport handles private jets.
Our luxury chauffeur service covers the airport, the drive and day trips along the coast.
Plan your Khao Takiab stay with Tanner
Tanner plans your Khao Takiab stay from the door of your Bangkok hotel. One planner chooses the resort or villa, sends the chauffeur and books golf and a seafood table by the pier. Our Thai team knows this coast, and we tell you if the town beach suits you better. Give us the dates and the guest list for a written plan.
